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  • What Makes A Teacher Great?

    What Makes A Teacher Great?

    Thanks for this daily writing prompt, WordPress, because I can speak from first-hand knowledge. Not only was I an ESL teacher for many years, I was also a teacher trainer, meaning that I instructed fluent-level international students on how to be effective, creative English teachers in their home countries. I loathed teaching. Despised it. Never…

  • ESL, Yet Again And Forever: May Gawd Have Mercy On My Soul

    ESL, Yet Again And Forever: May Gawd Have Mercy On My Soul

    Header pic: Me on my last day of teaching with some students in Busan, South Korea, eating fire chicken (buldak).  2007.  Oh, and that’s way back when chicken didn’t make me want to vomit.   When I find myself in times of trouble, there is no Mother Mary.  There are only the ravaging, demonic memories of…

  • Eee-ess hell, part one of infinity

    Eee-ess hell, part one of infinity

    It’s time.  It’s due time that I finally tackle the topic of The Worst Decision I Have Ever Made In My Life.  And holy Christ dangling from the cross, have I done some weird stuff. Like, I mean– I’ve dropped acid probably a dozen times. As a highly-emotional and empathetic person, this caused sheer terror and…